Thomas Sankara: An African Revolutionary (Ohio Short Histories of Africa)

Thomas Sankara was in the news this past week as his accused assassins were put on trial 34 after his death in Burkina Faso. This concise biography provides a good overview of his life, political intentions and achievements. It leaves one wondering what Burkina Faso would be today if he had ruled for longer. Recommend as an introduction to the life of this interesting man.

It is exactly what it says it is, a short history. Feel like there aren't enough quick overview biographies of important leaders out there. That being said this piece is very heavy on the back end with what exactly his policies were once he took power (spoilers I know) but I enjoyed that as well, book gave a very detailed (but not excessive) analysis of why Sankara chose to implement the policies he did. Will probably read the one on Lumumba as well. Read this for an episode of my podcast (Hard Fried History).

I give this a 5-star rating both for readability and for subject matter. We often hear about the African dictators who spend $5 million in foreign "development" money on a wedding but the aid dollars kept flowing in anyway. We rarely hear about one who took a harder path.Thomas Sankara, elected president of Burkina Faso in 1983, shunned the trappings of office. He refused aid money that came with strings which put donor interests first, mobilized a vaccination campaign at an unprecedented rate, and promoted women to higher office at a level only now matched in wealthier countries.Doing all that, of course, created enemies among those who were doing quite well under the old system, and he was assassinated after only four years in office. Ernest Harsch's short biography is the best English-language account of his eventful life and times.

This is a great account of the Sankara revolution. The amount of progress such a poor country made in the few years is remarkable. A great leader of the people. However, he didn’t keep tabs on what he calls the “petty bourgeois” within his leadership. Which ends up being his downfall. A must read for any study in socialism/communism or aspiring revolutionary.

This was a good read. It's impossible to find anything on Sankara, other than speeches, in English. I only wish there had been more information. I felt as though somehow, something was missing from the story, maybe a little more on his rise, a little more on the Christmas War, more on his time in power. It brushed in broad strokes.But, until I brush up on my French, or someone does a more comprehensive English-language bio, I am satisfied with broad strokes.

Great book! The author tries to give a balanced report about Sankara. I would have liked to have seen more interviews from those who opposed him in the end in order to get a better understanding of their perspective. Very good account of his accomplishments shame it did not work. Would have also liked to see specifics on French involvement in his toppling since some of those documents would have been de-classified by now.

A brief look into the life,Presidency,and lasting image of Sankara. It is very unbiased and shows the life of a man dedicated to his people who was cut down far too soon. He may have only been President for 4 years but his ideals and name endure.

I read your book in a day and shed a tear even though I knew how it would end. He will forever live in our hearts.

I must admit I knew nothing about Sankara or Burkina Faso (previously Upper Volta) until an Amazon recommendation after posting a review of a new book on the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the newly independent Belgian Congo, in 1961.Sankara reflected the next generation of new style African leaders after Lumumba, devout nationalists but also more attracted to socialism in trying to rise above the systemic corruption seen in most newly independent African states plus fighting old colonial power influence (in his case France). Born in 1949, and rising to prominence through his military career from humble origins, his key period in power was 1983-87 after a military coup before his assassination in office by army colleagues in 1987. His man of the people image and widely reported speeches alongside his communist driven politics and style of leadership have led to his being seen as a latter African Che Guevara. Based on this book that probably undersells his achievements, given he was prime minster and then president of Burkina Faso.The book is a pocket sized short history (153 pages) so reads as more an overview than a detailed history. It benefits in that the author had hands on experience of both the country and meeting with Sankara before his death, so he is able to provide a lot of context versus just an analytical academic review. However the book swings between being a biography of Sankara and an examination of his country's challenges to the extent that one is left feeling that a lack of detailed knowledge of Sankara's life is being compensated for by providing a wider history.Sankara's impact in attacking the numerous problems his country faced given its lack of natural resources and tribal and colonial legacy is well conveyed with a lot of details and explains his popular support and image when in power. Sadly his personal management style and devotion to communist ideology plus failing to identify excesses by the actions of certain of his followers, left him exposed. Forging links with Cuba, Ghana and Libya while failing to build strong domestic allies given his alienation of USA and France's sponsorship, proved divisive internally and with other West African Francophile ex-colonies surrounding his landlocked country.By the time of Sankara's assassination in 1987, his overthrow while tragic given what followed in Burkina Faso feels almost inevitable given his inability to forge a wider leadership team that fully supported him and would stand with and behind him. Sad proof that charismatic leaders need strong teams around them to finally succeed - contrast for example Mandela and the ANC's assumption of power in South Africa as the more successful model needed.

powerful must read

Small book but interesting to read.

A very well written introduction to the life, thoughts, presidency and death of Thomas Sankara. Hopefully this short book will help spread the word and thoughts of a true African leader (despite a few flaws) throughout the English speaking world. If Professor Harsch is reading this review...any possibility of a more extensive work on Sankara, his co-revolutionaries and Burkina Faso?

It's a shame more people have not heard of Thomas Sankara, but this is a fine introduction to anyone who has and would like to know more about the former Burkinabe president. He tried to do the best for his country by supporting women's rights, building grain stores, pipes for water transportation and schools and fighting corruption, but unfortunately his legacy is nearly lost as Burkina Faso now has the lowest literacy rate in Africa. But his presidency was a model for how countries in Africa should be run for the benefit of all. He lived as he wanted others to live.